WILMINGTON, Del. - Charles M. Oberly III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Kevin Morris, age 24 of Franklin Township, (Chester County), was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment for his role in a drug conspiracy centered in Wilmington that involved the importation of cocaine and heroin from Panama and Afghanistan. United States District Judge Richard G. Andrews further imposed a three year term of supervised release and ordered Morris to forfeit the sum of $22,172.00 in drug proceeds.

Morris pleaded guilty on July 25, 2012, to conspiracy to smuggle five kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin from the Republic of Panama into the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846; and money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957. According to facts introduced during the plea hearing, Morris admitted that he acted as a recruiter, facilitator, and financier for the organization, and that he was involved on multiple occasions in which couriers smuggled or attempted to smuggle heroin and cocaine from Panama to Delaware. He acknowledged making cocaine and heroin sales to customers based primarily in Pennsylvania, including to confidential informants under the control of the Pennsylvania State Police. Morris further admitted his involvement in purchasing approximately one-half kilogram of cocaine in Washington, D.C., which had been smuggled into the United States through a military contractor based in Afghanistan.

In connection with his plea agreement Morris accepted responsibility for at least five kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of heroin. He also admitted that he laundered his drug proceeds in part by purchasing two vehicles.

To date, the government has charged twenty-three individuals in the United States with drug trafficking offenses as a result of the investigation. All but four of those defendants - each of whom remain abroad in Panama - have pleaded guilty, or have agreed to plead guilty, to drug-related offenses.

United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly III, stated, “The Court’s sentence appropriately punishes the defendant for his important role in an international drug conspiracy that had a negative impact on Wilmington and its surrounding communities. I applaud the exceptional efforts of our law enforcement partners in dismantling the organization of which Mr. Morris played a significant role.”

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the Wilmington Police Department.

Investigators also received invaluable assistance from the Panamanian National Police; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; the United States Marshals Service for the District of Delaware; the (Delaware) Police Department; the Delaware State Police; the New Castle County Police Department; the Delaware Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole; the Cecil (Maryland) Drug Task Force; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Maryland State Police; and the (Maryland) Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Kravetz. For further information, contact Press Information Officer Kimberlynn Reeves (302) 573-6277, ext. 16287.